Manchester United Women dey feel serious pain after Bayern Munich send them pack from Champions League quarter-final. The match wey play for Germany on Wednesday night end 2-1 for Bayern, make aggregate score reach 5-3. United start well-o, Melvine Malard score early goal to level the tie. But two late goals from set pieces spoil everything for the Red Devils.
Captain Maya Le Tissier talk say the team dey gutted. “It just sucks,” she yarn for club media after the match. “Everyone dey disappointed, especially because we concede two set pieces.” Le Tissier wey score penalty for first leg and assist Hanna Lundkvist goal, still find small pride for the team effort. “We fit proud of ourselves for reaching quarter-final. We believe say we fit win here, but we no reach.”
Head coach Marc Skinner also show face for press conference. The man talk say his players give their all but Bayern get more fresh legs. “We dominate the game,” Skinner explain. “But Bayern Munich dey fresher—dem fit rotate seven players for weekend match. For end, we no get leg again.” Skinner point to Bayern energy for second half as major factor wey change the game.
For men team side, some good news dey ground. Lisandro Martinez don return to training as Michael Carrick prepare for Premier League resumption. Martinez dey eye return against Leeds United on Monday, April 13. His return go important because Harry Maguire dey serve one-match suspension after red card against Bournemouth.
Young star Shea Lacey also dey back for full training sessions. The 18-year-old wey Rio Ferdinand hail as “breath of fresh air” earlier this year, don make three senior appearances this season. Lacey get injury setback recently but now dey work with team again.
Meanwhile, old gist about former United strikers Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham still dey trend. The two legends wey help United win Treble for 1999, no dey talk to each other for four years wey dem play together. Cole talk say the beef start for 1995 when Sheringham snub handshake after England match.
“I don’t even know the bloke,” Cole write for Independent for 2010. “We be fellow England players, na my debut and he snub me. From that moment, I know Sheringham no be my mate.” The two even try to fight for tunnel after 1998 draw with Bolton, with Roy Keane wey try separate them first before nearly fight Sheringham himself.
But the story get happy ending. Sheringham talk for talkSPORT say dem finally settle matter for nightclub after many years. “He walk over and say, ‘Ted, make we let bygones be bygones,'” Sheringham recall. “I never expect that from Andy, but I happy to shake hand.”
Back to present day, United Women now focus on last three games of season. Skinner set target for team to win all matches and qualify for Europe again. “If we want that feeling again, we need to win the last three games,” the coach declare. “Then Europe dey our hand.”
The team go return to action on April 26 against Tottenham Hotspur after international break. For men team, Carrick dey work with returning players as dem prepare for crucial Leeds clash wey go affect top-four chase.
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